Global patterns in seed size

doi:10.1111/j.1466-8238.2006.00259.x

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Wiley InterScience

Global Ecology and Biogeography

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Volume 16 Issue 1, Pages 109 - 116

Published Online: 15 Dec 2006

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RESEARCH PAPER

Global patterns in seed size

Angela T. Moles ^1,2*, David D. Ackerly ³ , John C. Tweddle ^4,5 , John B. Dickie ⁴ , Roger Smith ⁴ , Michelle R. Leishman ² , Margaret M. Mayfield ⁶ , Andy Pitman ⁷ , Jeff T. Wood ⁸ and Mark Westoby ²

¹ National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, 735 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-5304, USA, ² Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia, ³ Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3140, USA, ⁴ Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, West Sussex, RH17 6TN, UK, ⁵ The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK, ⁶ Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9610, USA, ⁷ Department of Physical Geography, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia, and ⁸ Statistical Consulting Unit, Australian National University, ACT 0200, Australia

*Correspondence: Angela Moles, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand. E-mail: angela.moles@vuw.ac.nz

KEYWORDS

Growth form • latitudinal gradient • plant traits • seed dispersal syndrome • seed mass

ABSTRACT

Aim To provide the first global quantification of the slope and shape of the latitudinal gradient in seed mass, and to determine whether global patterns in seed mass are best explained by growth form, vegetation type, seed dispersal syndrome, or net primary productivity (NPP).

Location Global.

Methods We collected seed mass data for 11,481 species × site combinations from around the world. We used regression to describe the latitudinal gradient in seed mass, then applied general linear models to quantify the relative explanatory power of each of the variables hypothesized to underlie the latitudinal gradient in seed size.

Results There is a 320-fold decline in geometric mean seed mass between the equator and 60°. This decline is not linear. At the edge of the tropics, there is a sudden 7-fold drop in mean seed mass. The strongest correlates of the latitudinal gradient in seed mass are plant growth form, and vegetation type, followed by dispersal syndrome and NPP. A model including growth form, vegetation type, dispersal syndrome and NPP explains 51% of the variation in seed mass. Latitude explains just 0.2% of the residual variation from this model.

Main conclusions This is the first demonstration of a major decrease in seed size at the edge of the tropics. This drop in seed mass is most closely correlated with changes in plant growth form and vegetation type. This suggests that the drop in seed mass might be part of a sudden change in plant strategy at the edge of the tropics.

DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER (DOI)

10.1111/j.1466-8238.2006.00259.x About DOI